WorkAccord
LightNews LightNews
banner
workaccord.bsky.social
WorkAccord
@workaccord.bsky.social
18 followers 43 following 54 posts
WorkAccord is a #postlaw governance + dispute resolution practice that advances ADR through accord-building, ethical collaboration, and continuous learning, founded by Andrew C. Wood, Mediator, Conciliator & Learning Designer.
Posts Replies Media Videos
workaccord.bsky.social
What can fairy tales tell us about mediation? In this Field Note, I reflect on Vigen Gourian’s exposition of Margery Williams’ "The Velveteen Rabbit, or How Toys Become Real" and sketch out some connections to mediation as a practice of integrative peacemaking.
andrew267.substack.com/p/the-imagin...
A watercolor illustration of the Velveteen Rabbit. The illustration is by William Nicholson and shoes the rabbit on a mound of grass with ferns and flowers. The sky behind is gold and grey. The title of the illustration is "Spring Time".
October 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
workaccord.bsky.social
Thinking, this week, about how we can build and nurture the #StructuredNegotiation mindset. As learning designers, we’d like to think that it would be possible to design a program that could support the development of a significant change in attitude.

open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...
Pull quote on a mottles, grey, square background: "Yet these approaches to the problem suggest that Structured Negotiation practitioners must be advocates for the process as well as advocates for the client and that the toughest negotiation of all may, at times, be the internal negotiation that takes place within the client team." Andrew C. Wood. Reading Lainey Feingold's (2021) Structured Negotiation: A wimming Alternative to LAwsuits - 2nd edition (Cont's)"
July 11, 2025 at 5:49 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
I used to think we were mediating disputes; but perhaps we are mediating peace.

open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...
Pull quote on square mottled grey background. "What is beginning to emerge in our work is an extended framework for mediated intervention - a way of being present in the midst of conflict, before the sharp edges form, and before formal remedies close in". Andrew C Wood
June 7, 2025 at 6:24 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
The latest in my series of 'Field Notes from Post-Law Peacemaking' delves further into the ways in which mediation and structured negotiation might work together to serve the requirements of relational justice.

open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

#mediation #structurednegotiation #VeteranSupport
Pull quote on a dappled, grey, square background, "mediation, at its best, is not simply an event, but a care-full presence. A pressence that holds space for people in their meaning-making" Andrew C. Wood. Still 'Swimming with the Dolphins'.
June 4, 2025 at 5:19 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
Proof-of-concept testing of our Veterans' Mediation model on a hypothetical "offsetting" challenge, revealed the model's logical sequence for moral repair.

open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

#Mediation #VeteranSupport #MoralRepair
A pull-quote on a mottled, grey square background. "In many systems, the sequence is clear: first prove entitlement, then receive remedy. But in this work, the sequence is often reversed: First, the harm must be acknowledged. Then, the relationship must be repaired. Only then, can any remedy be meaningfully received." Andrew C. Wood "Wicked Problems and Institutional Courage - Testing Relational Justice in Veteran Entitlement Offsetting."
May 14, 2025 at 4:10 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
We launched WorkAccord Learning on the Heartbeat platform earlier this week - quietly, intentionally, and with care.

We also adopted a freemium model.

This article shares why we made that choice, who this space is for, and what we’re building together.

www.linkedin.com/posts/workac...
A group of happy people from mixed occupations, cheering with fists pumping the air.
May 14, 2025 at 2:01 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
When we tested our Veterans' Mediation model we discovered that "Mediation is more than an event."

From:"Wicked Problems and Institutional Courage - Testing Relational Justice in Veteran Entitlement Offsetting."

andrew267.substack.com/p/wicked-pro...

#Mediation #VeteranSupport #CareEthics
Pull quotye on a grey square background, "The process demonstrated itself as more than a single event: Intake became orientation. Pre-mediation became narrative anchoring. Dialogue became midpoint. Outcomes became waypoints. Follow-up became continued care."
May 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
This latest Field Note is not a critique. It is a mapping. We are not yet asking what ought to be done differently. We are first asking: What exactly is the space we are being asked to enter as mediators?

andrew267.substack.com/p/holding-sp...

#Mediation #CareEthics #VeteranSupport
Pull quote on a square orange background: "We do not mediate because the law has failed. We mediate because the law has finished - and something still remains to be done." Andrew C. Wood Holding Space where the Quality of Mercy Is Most Definitely Strained."
May 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
Journalising the design process for a veterans' mediation program has been a valuable, reflective discipline.

Here I grapple with the challenges: How do we design space for the exercise of institutional courage and moral repair? Why do we need to?

andrew267.substack.com/p/finding-ro...
A pull quote from my Substack article: "Finding Room for Courage: Discretion and Relational Justice in Veterans' Disputes". "In commercial and administrative disputes — particularly as matters approach adjudication — relational space collapses, and mediation can become lawyer-driven, risk-averse, and relationally hollow."
May 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM
workaccord.bsky.social
It has been a worthwhile challenge to journalise the design process for a Veterans' mediation program. Here's a little of what has been directing my thinking abut why such a program needs to be "reparative" rather than "restorative".

andrew267.substack.com/p/towards-a-...
A pull quote from my Substack article "Towards a Theory & Practice of Relational Justice in Veterans' Mediation" "… for many veterans: There is no civilian status quo ante to return to; Military service has intentionally broken and reshaped their identity, perception, and agency; Transition has often broken them again—often without reshaping or re-formation. To ask for restoration may, in some cases, be to ask for a third breaking. Instead, we offer relational justice: not a return, but a recognition; not reconciliation, but responsiveness; not closure, but accompaniment."
May 1, 2025 at 11:34 PM
workaccord.bsky.social
Sending out a friendly ‘Coo-eee!’ to all the mediators, conciliators, peacemakers, ADR program designers, collaborative thinkers, and post-lawyers in the woods or on the web.

If you’re exploring new paths in conflict resolution, let’s find each other.

#mediation #DisputeResolution #PeaceMaking
Person in the woods with hands to mouth as megaphopne shouting, "Coo-eee!". Note: "Coo-eee" is an Australian bush call used to find lost mates
April 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
workaccord.bsky.social
Two weeks ago, we launched "Field Notes from Post-Law Peacemaking" - a mendicant writing project about designing a veterans' pro bono mediation program within a care framework and trusting to providence.

Today, on a day of "small miracles," this came - a quiet reminder that care is never wasted.
An orange square with a note from a newly pledged subscriber, "Your skills are something I believe in, and your thoughts and knowledge have the capability to mediate what ius currently not possible." ANDREW267.SUBSTACK.COM
April 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
How do we design mediation processes that reflect care—not just in intent, but in how they are received?

At the end of each editorial cycle, I pause, reflect, and open space for what’s next. This week’s “Close-the-Loop” note is now live.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/design...
Cup of coffee on a table - Napkin - Pen. On the napkin is written, "pause, reflect, act".
April 7, 2025 at 1:52 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
Designing a Veterans’ Mediation Program within an ethic of care framework seemed straight forward … until I had to design for #responsiveness and ask:

“ How do we ensure that care is not shaped by what we think we’re providing, but by how it is received?”

open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...
April 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
workaccord.bsky.social
A few thoughts on starting a new Substack - "Field Notes from Post-Law Peacemaking" - and designing an Audience Charter.

#PostLaw #IntegrativeLaw #Substack #Writing

www.linkedin.com/pulse/field-...
A desk - a manual typewriter - a blank sheet of paper (a wee bit crumpled like me) - the candles are lit - Let's get started!
April 2, 2025 at 2:57 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
Thinking about how we design ADR programs with care. This week I shared a field note on a veterans' mediation program—one grounded in an ethic of care. Success in this work isn’t settlement or compromise. It’s repair.

open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...
Wordmark:" Field Notes from Post-Law Peacemaking" with an image of a lined notebook in which has been written, "Field Note: Veterans' Mediation Program, 01 April 2025."
April 1, 2025 at 12:20 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
Telstra Business Website Services is being discontinued. So, our WorkAccord website’s taking a well-earned nap while we rebuild. Back soon with fresh energy! Here's how you can find us in the meantime.
lnkd.in/gm6WDbQM
March 27, 2025 at 12:57 AM
workaccord.bsky.social
Still swimming with the dolphins. 🐬 🙂🌏
February 28, 2025 at 2:26 AM